The Slovak national football team lost 1:2 in the C-division of the League of Nations in Sweden on Saturday.
Photo: TASR, Jaroslav Novák
The Slovak footballers have a difficult match in Sweden behind them.
Coach Francesco Calzona’s team will definitely take the final second place in the 1st group and will play a playoff for promotion to the “B” in March next year. The Swedes secured direct promotion to the higher division even before the final round.
The Slovaks could have taken the lead already in the opening minute, when Tomáš Suslov found himself in the tutovka, but he did not finish ideally with his weaker right leg.
On the opposite side, striker Viktor Gyökeres showed his form and sent the Northerners into the lead with a quick shot to the far post. The same player could have secured a two-goal lead for the Swedes, but Martin Dúbravka made an excellent save in a separate escape.
Dávid Hancko was able to equalize in the 19th minute, but the “falcons” did not enter the second half. After three minutes, they conceded from Alexander Isak’s kick.
Several Slovak players were troubled by health problems, Denis Vavro withdrew from the game in the first half, Ondrej Duda joined him in the second half, and Hancko finished the game only with self-denial.
The final onslaught didn’t even come, as captain Milan Škriniar stopped the running Gyökeres with an illegal tackle in the 90th minute and headed to the cabins prematurely after the second yellow card.
On November 19, Slovakia is waiting for the final duel in Trnava against Estonia. The “Three Crowns” will welcome Azerbaijan on their home field.
Nations League Group C-Division 1 – Round 5:
Sweden – Slovakia 2:1 (1:1)
Goals: 3. Gyökeres, 48. Isak – 19. Hancko. ŽK: Hien, Gudmundsson – Dúbravka, Bero, Škriniar. ČK: 90. Škriniar (after the second ŽK). Referees: Balakin – Berkut, Matjaš (all Ukrainian), 36,417 spectators.
Sweden: Johansson – Lindelöf (26. Starfelt), Hien, Gudmundsson – Eliasson (75. Holm), Ayari (75. Karlström), Kulusevski, Saletros, Sema – Gyökeres, Isak
Slovakia: Dúbravka – Gyömbér, Vavro (41. Obert), Škriniar, Hancko – Duda (67. Rigo), Lobotka, Bénes (57. Bero) – Ďuriš (57. Schranz), Strelec, Suslov
The Slovaks burned a huge tutu just after thirty seconds of the game. The home team made a mistake in the pass and Suslov made his way through the center of the defense to the end, who did not hit the ball perfectly with his weaker right foot and headed outside the goal.
Soon, Gyökeres found himself in a similar position on the opposite side, and the Swedish gunner opened the score with a shot to the far post – 1:0. The Swedes showed extraordinary offensive power, in the first quarter Gyökeres found himself on the run for the second time, who was caught by Dúbravka with his left foot.
The Slovakian goalkeeper also hit a few seconds later after Isak’s shot. The guests held on in both moments, moreover, they were able to strike.
Gyömbér made a nice block in the right wing area, after his subsequent cross the ball fell to Hancko and he shot the defender with his left hand and equalized with the crossbar in the 19th minute.
The game subsequently lost its pace, it was fragmented a lot and stoppers were injured on both sides. First, in the 26th minute, home team member Lindelöf finished the game, on the opposite side, Vavro slipped and was replaced by Obert. Ďuriš had a chance to score in the locker room, but after a back pass the ball went under his feet.
After the change of sides, the opening seconds unfolded in the attacking half of the Slovaks, but they quickly conceded again. In the penalty area, Isak made his way between the three defending players and beat Dúbravka with a sharp shot.
Substitute Bero had a great chance to equalize in the 60th minute, to whom Schranz put the ball in the penalty area, but the Slovak midfielder finished inaccurately with a left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Health problems also affected Duda, who was replaced by Rigo. In addition, the Slovaks used three substitutions in the interrupted game, so coach Calzono could not reach for another change.
In addition, Hancko signaled muscle problems. The exclusion of Škriniar definitively ruined hopes for a final push and sent the Slovaks into a playoff for promotion.
Voices after the meeting (source: RTVS):
Martin Dúbravka, Slovak goalkeeper: “It was a difficult match against a quality opponent on a difficult field. The Swedes showed extra class, especially in the offensive. Isak’s second goal was something special. I didn’t just focus on him, although he is my club mate and he will talk to me about that goal probably until Christmas. I can cope with that, but I perceive the loss itself worse. In addition, some of our players got injured and withdrew. You can’t always avoid those cards. Now, in the next match, other players will start and have the opportunity to show off. At home, we will try to get revenge on the fans for today’s match.”
Ivan Schranz, striker of SR: “I gradually caught my breath in the match and got into runs. I need to build on that. However, I lacked a better solution to situations. If I had been more relaxed, maybe the result would have been different. It was a difficult meeting. The Swedes have a great team and three excellent strikers. Our defenders had a hard time. Some passages of the match were really great for the Swedes, but there were also some for us. A draw would have been nice, but it ended differently. That’s football.”
Dávid Hancko, defender of SR: “We know that with this loss, our chances are gone. We are sorry. After a great chance from Sweden, we got into the match. We fought, we left everything there. Hats off to the Swedes, they showed us great offensive power. I haven’t experienced such a tough match at the national team level for a long time. Gradually, we matched the opponent in hardness. I sprained my ankle a little. The Swedes had several chances, but so did we. We may regret not converting them. Coach Calzona told us after the game that he is proud of the team he is leading. He said that if we are going to lose, then let us lose like this. We fought until the end and left everything there. We tried to do everything he wanted us to do.”
Milan Škriniar, defender, captain of SR: “It was a very difficult match. After the first match against each other, we knew that the Swedes would be more aggressive at home. It was difficult to play combined football on the difficult terrain, it was impossible. We tried it with combativeness and some chances arose from it. Unfortunately, we didn’t convert them. It’s a shame that it didn’t end in at least a draw. Before my yellow card I had maybe half a second to decide what to do. He ran into me sensibly, he did it well. The second yellow was deserved. I don’t want to comment on the referee. Other players will get a chance in the next match.”
Source: sportweb.pravda.sk
